Cleat feeding apparatus for box-making machines



June 14, 1960 L. s. HAYWARD 2,940,637

CLEAT FEEDING APPARATUS FOR Box-MAKING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 25. 1955 INVENTOR.

W ATTORNEYS.

A@ m@ o wm o WS@ MQ @am L. 5mn/ey Hayward HYz u NSW-@Mld 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MM L. 5mn/ey Hayward mvY L. S. HAYWARD CLEAT FEEDING APPARATUS FOR BOX-MAKING MACHINES June 14, `196() Filed Feb. 25. 1955 @@,mw WD@ w@ w 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR L. 5mn/ey Hayward BY M5, )im 'rfd ATTORNEYS.

June 14, 1960 l.. s. HAYWARD CLEAT FEEDING APPARATUS FOR Box-MAKING MACHINES Filed Feb. 25. 1955 United States rJ- ,l

CLEAT FEEDING AFPARATUS FOR BOX-MAKING MACHINES 2 Claims. (Cl: 22h-116)' The invention illustrated and described herein relates to apparatus for dispensing cleats to wirebound boxf making machines-of .the type disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,304,510, issued December 8, 1942.

In such machines, properly assembled cleatsy and side material or slats are conveyed beneath a transverse bank of stapling mechanisms Where they are stapled to longialternation.' This considerably complicates the" problem;

of mechanically feeding the cleatsto' the conveyerbands. US. Patent No; 2,658,631 discloses' apparatus'for feedin'gtwo dierent lengths of cleats fro'ma' single'Y hopper. VThis apparatus, however, necessitates' prearrange'ment `of the cleats in"th`e"hopper'with long and shortrcleats' alternating K The present invention' provides a cleat feeding apparatus; which; ratherthan depending' upon" the' cleat pushing elements themselves-Lto' strip the cleats individually5 from the column of cleats in the hopper, includesv means'fo'r dropping 'the' cleats individually'ffrom thehopper atI intervals precisely'synchronized withfthe arrival below the hopperof' the:respectivev spaces between thecleatpushin'g elements. This not only avoids the diihcltywith' respectY to friction'al interlocking ofthel 'rougir-faces: of" the Vmembers mentioned above include an anglel member- `A Vtus-includes end walls zand V4 and a dividing;n waits cleatslwhichfisinvolved-feeding the-cleats lengthwise out of the hopper, and the attendant"problems-ofbmultipley feeding; jammingg' etc.,v but it also makes itpos'sible toprovide' separate hoppersffor 'each 'of two ori'm'or'e diiferent lengths otcieat and thereby; avoid'stpre'arrange'- ,menti 'fof-titel cieats; allowing' them" tobe- Yhandled inE multipl'e:

In the drawings: Figure. 1 is a fragrnentaryview 'ofthe inputV end of wirebb'un'd box-'making machine with 'some parts'broken apparatus as viewed from the end .vhicl-appears'atf'the i rightwinr vFigin'e 12. I

VFigure is a fragmentary"view"'of` the' lo'wer portion of the cleat-feeding-rapparatus; showing the cleat-"supportingelements actuated to' allow the shorter' cleat' toffdrbp between 'the 'cleatrspacin'gf elements 'onthelconveyer band".

2,940,637' Patented JuneT 14, 1960 Figure 8*4 'is a `agrnen'tary sectionalvview takenon the lineS-S of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an end elevation ofthe apparatusfas viewed fromthe end which appears at the right in Figure 7 Figure VI() s` a top ,planview of the apparatus shown Figures 7 to 9. Y

As may be seen with reference to Figuresl and 4, the invention is embodie'dlin a pair of similar` cleat*L feeding units adapted tobe mounted at opposite sides of the `input end of a wirebound box-making machine4 onthe railY assernblie'sV which' support the continuously moving conveyer bands. Since the two cleat-feeding units at opposite sides of the machine are similarly constructed, it will suice to illustrate and describe only one of them,` that being the one which is positioned at theright-hand side of the machine (looking in the direction-of movement of the box parts). Thisunit is shown more or less diagrammatically in- Figure 1 andx on a` larger scale in Figures 2, 3, 4;-and 5.

As shown in Figure 4,. the` longitudinally extending rail which supports thevcleat-fe'eding apparatus and anvangle member B `which supports the upper run of the conveyor band C with attached 'cleat spacing elements, such asiH. Referringvto Figures 2 and 3,. the cleat-feeding apparawhich is spaced between the end wallsto provide-.two l'noppersv D and E- of- -unequal length,v inwhich. supplies of cleats'of'two-diiercnt lengthsV may, be stored; Acrossbrace' S bearing vertical bars .i0 extends-acrosssand-l-is 'fa'stenedto the e'nd walls 2 fand 4 and dividingfwall: 6- to provide an open frameworlcfat the. inner faces-of the hoppersto support and guide the-downwardmovementof the columns of cleatsstored` thercim Y As shown in Figure 4'the.vertical portion-121of-an inverted T-shapedr base member 14 supports aplurality of spaced `vertical bars 16'. which enclose the outerV faces of the hoppers' DV and Theoutwardly extending horizontalrbase ange, 18 of the T-shaped base member 14 is'secured to the angle memberA to support thefframework of the dispensing apparatus, while'the inwardly extending base angel L2t) supports-at its endr a shortgfup- Wardly'projecting w'al1`22 of rather thin `cross'sectiont-V to form a channel to receive. the cleats,such-as indicated at J, as'they are'droppe'd individually from the. columns "of cleatsV in the hoppers', and-guide them as vthey are moved by the cleat spacing. elements in the direction vindicated by ,the arrow F in Figure 2. v

As may also be seen in Figure 2 and 3, a pairH of arms 24 and 26 extend outwardly from eitherfside of the-verti cal portion 12 of base member. 14. The outer end, of arm 24, at the' right-'hand side of Figure- 3,A isprovided with'an integral'projecting `bracket 28, while the` other arm 26 carries at its outer end a clamping strap 30 .in which a solenoid 32 is' adjustable clamped. A. rod 36 which extends acrossthe' innerside of thecleat-feeding apparatus-has at its' left-'handY end, `as. viewed in' Figure 2, an eye 38v which is pivotally attached to the armature 34 of so1enoid32; This rod 32 is adju'stably secured .in the boresof' blocks'40 which .are pivotally fastenedlto crank arms 42 fastened to the outer' faces of spur gears 44 rotatably mounted on studs 46 threaded intotheadia.-

cent edgesof endwa'lls 2 and 4.

:angular fingers 74 and 76. t

Y VenergizesV solenoid Y32.

may be seen in '2, 5, and 6, a shorter ro 48 is adjustably secured at one endY in anY outer'block 50 pivotally mounted on the same stud as is block 40 of the mechanism mounted on end wall 4. This rod 48 ex'- tends obliquely downward and its other Vend is adjustably "secured in a block 52 pivotally attached to a lever 54 fastened-to theY outer face ofk a spur gearV ,56' rotatably mounted on a stud 58 threaded into the adjacent edgelof ,1,

' 'are rocked out of engagement with the beveled ends of VIhe`ingers'i64 and. 66 positionedadjaeent to end .walls f V2 and 4 are Vcaused to rock in onefdirection by longitudinal movement of rod 36in one direction when solenoid '321s energized, and in a reverse. direction when solenoid L32 is deenergized by a tension spring 78 one end of which ."islfastened to the end-of rod 36 andthe other end of "which isfastened to a studA 80 threaded into the aforer 3 'rnentioned bracket '28.

ith further reference to Figures 2,l 5, and 6, and particularly Figure 6, it will be seen thattthe sides of the triangular -ngers 64, 66, 74, and .76,arebeveledY at such 'v @angle that, at'opposite extremes of their rocking motion, Y th'ese'beveled sides will ushly abut the mitered ends of Y 'thefbottomcleats in the hoppers to support the cleats in va horizontal position; To achieve this desired. position- 4ing o f the fingers, the longitudinal position ofrsolenoid Y 32 Vin.'theclamping strap 30 may be varied to adjust the s 1- posltlon of the lingers at oneextreme movement. Their position Vfat the opposite extreme of movement may be adjusted by varying the position of aV lug 82 which is adjustably secured adjacent the `free end of rod 36, and

by the spring 78. 1 VThe energization of the solenoid `32 is'k controlled by a t of electric switches 86` and 88 which are mounted Y 1 which cooperates with a stationary stop 84 lixed at the r i jinner face of arm 24` to limit movement of the rod 36 on`brack'e'ts90 adjustably secured to angle member B and-'f 'conveniently positioned adjacentthe conveyer vband C. 'As Yshown iufFigureV 3, each of these' switches is provided withl Va spring finger 92 whichV extends outwardly therefrom toward the conveyer band C and into the path of Yetc. The momentary actuation of switch 86 by passage L of the clamping lugs causes the closure of the contacts vof a conventional latching relay housed in a box `94 attachecl to angle member B to energize'solenoid 32, while 'actuation of switch 88 opens the relay contacts and de- To describe theV alternate feeding ofV twov diierent lengths of cleats by the apparatus just described, reference'is made tothe arrow F in Figure 2, indicating the 'direction' of travel of the conveyer band C with attached r .cleat spacing members G and H, and to Figure -5- which "shows the initial position of the bottom cleat I in. hopper D and bottom cleat K lin hopper E. As -Will be seen and 48 and levers 42 and 54to be moved from the respective positions in which vthey are shown in. Figure 5 toward the left as viewed in Figure 2.

` As a result, the spur gear 44 on end wall 2 is rotated A ounterclockwise, imparting'a similar movement to spur Vthefclamping lugs L of the cleat spacing members H, N,

they bottom cleat J, permitting it to drop Vonto flange 29 'of base member 14'between'the Vcleat spacingY members G and H, as shown in Figures 2.and .4.

, Simultaneously, the beveled ends of the next following VVcleat J1 in the hopper D will be engaged and supported by fingers 64 and 74'of spur gears 60 and 70,. respectively, which are rocked inwardly of `hopper D. Meanwhile, as shoWnvin Figure y2, Yin the hopper E the bottomcleat K is disengaged by the outwardly `rocking movement of fingers 64and 74 of spur gears60 and 70 respectively, and allowed to drop into position on the inwardly rocked fingers 66V and 76,ofspur gears Y62 and 72, respectively,

in readiness to be diseharged'into proper position on the Yconveyer band C in Vthe nextstep of the cycle..-

" Figures 2 and 5and particularly-Figure 5, show the Vlonger cleat which has thus been fed after it has Ybeen Vmoved beneath and beyondY hopper E by the cleat spactionin approximate alignment with the ends of the bottom cleat K in hopper E, the clamp lug L of cleat spacing member H contacts the spring linger 92 of switch 88 to actuateY electric switch 88, opening the `Ycontacts of the relay in box 94. As a result, solenoid 32 is deenergined,

releasing its armature 34 and permitting tension-,spring 78 to move rods 36 and 48 Yand levers 42 and 54 toward the right as viewed in Figure V5. f .Y -V

- .This movement of the levers rotates spur 'gears 44 and 56 in the direction opposite to that described above. Thus,

as shown in Figure 5, fingers 66 and 76 are rocked out- ,wardly of hopper-E disengaging the mitered ends of the bottom cleat K and allowing it to drop'onto the ange 20 of base member`14 and between the cleat spacing mem- .'.bers H and M, while the'following cleat K1 is engaged by tingers 64.and 74, to support it and the remaining .cleats in the hopper E. 45

Simultaneously, inV hopper D. the cleat I1 isreleased by lingers 64 and 74 (Figure 2) and allowed to drop onto Vlingers 66 and76 in position to be discharged in the next feeding cycle.v

This sequence of operations is repeated -to feed the longand short cleats into alternate positions on the moving conveyor bands.

readily be understood, the short cleat may be fed rst with the long cleat following, if desired. Also,

the switches 86 and 88 may be positioned so that'the cleat particularly useful in combination with another cleat dispensing unit of 4generally similar construction and performance, when cleats oftwo different lengths are required. Such a combination of independent cleat disvpensing units permits greater flexibility of cleat arrange- .menu This apparatus may also be used individually to rvsupply cleats when the VVdesign of the box requires cleats of only one length.

As shown in Figures 9 .and 10, the apparatus is ported by upstanding vmembers 96l at itsopposte ends,

.said members 96 having flanged bases 98 which are seannesse tion to engage 'the endsof'the column of cleatsinthe hopper and guide their descent, are iiat-members100 heaving"l at their lower ends inwardly projectingfe'etf102, the inner faces of which are bevelled to iit iiushly against the'mitered ends of the cleat at thelowermost position ih the hopper.

Fastened to the left-hand faces of the two ups'tanding members, 96 as viewed in Figure 9, is an elongated, reverse L-shaped member 104 whose base portion 106 is channel shaped to receive:v and guide the cleats as" they are dropped therein and pushed therealong. The vertical wail 108 of this member 104 is reduced in heightfor a portion of. its length, as shown in Figure 7,beg`im'1ing at R, to align it withthe upper surface of'a bracket 110 (Figures 8 and 9) which is secured to the rear face of the member 104. As may be seen in Figure 8, these aligned surfaces serve as a lower support for the column ofv cleats in the hopper.

Attached tothe bracket 110 and extending horizontally outward therefrom is' a skeletal framework, best shown in Figure l0 and comprisingbars 112 and 114, which supports a solenoid 1116. The armature 118 of this solenoid 116 is pivotally connected by short link members 120 tol a pair of horizontal arms 122 which are pivotally mounted' on'bolts' 124 threaded into bracket 110. These arms are normally maintained in a retracted position, showny in full lines in Figure 10, by a pair of tension springs 126 (Figure l0) one end of each of said springs being fastened to a stud 128 threaded into the headed end 130 of the arm- 122 while its other end is fastened; to a stud 132 threaded into the upper surface of bar 114.

At either end ofthe apparatus, fastened to the inner faces of the upstanding members 96, are plate members 134, each of which supports at its outer face a linkage assembly including a short link member 136, one end of which is pivotally fastened at 140 to the armature 142 of a solenoid 144 which is mounted within a cutout area 146 of the plate 134 and fastened thereto by an end plate 148.

Supported at the lower corner of each linkage is a head member 150 bearing a iin 152 which projects downwardly therefrom at an oblique angle to tit iiushly against the mitered adjacent end of the cleat.

As may be seen in Figure 7, the n members 152 are at a level slightly below that of the bevelled feet 102 of the members 100, so that the bottom cleat in the hopper may be pushed readily by the arms 122 laterally oii the support formed by the aligned top surfaces of bracket 110 and the cut-away portion of the vertical wall 108 and onto the iin members 152.

The solenoids 144 and 116 are respectively controlled by a pair of electric switches 154 and 156 (Figures 7 and mounted adjacent the conveyor band C on brackets 158 which are adjustably spaced apart on a parallel pair of bars 160 by clamping elements 164 and 166. The bars 160 are fastened at each end to bosses 162 which are secured to the inner face of the angle member B. Each ofthe brackets 158 supports a spring finger 168 the free end 170 of which projects outwardly into the path of the clamping lugs 172 of the control blocks S (Figure 10) on the conveyor band C.

The operation of this apparatus is as follows:

A column of cleats is stored in the hopper which is defined by the at members 100 and the vertical bars 174 and 176 (Figures 8 and 9), and an additional cleat is positioned on the hns 152. At the outset of operation, the latter cleat may be placed by hand on the ns 152, or the switch 156 may be actuated manually to cause the arms 122 to move the bottom cleat in the hopper onto the iin members 152 in the manner described hereinafter. 'I'he extent of this outward movement of the bottom cleat is controlled by stop iingers 178 attached to the bottom ends of the hopper vertical bars 174.

As the conveyer band C continuously moves in the direction indicated? by'v the arrowsp in Figure--ltbe' .clamping lug 1712i ofi conveyor band blockM S. engages. and

depresses the free.- end 170: of the spring nger 168 adjacent the tst electric. switch- 154 and actuates the: switch to.1 energize. the. solenoids 144 and cause. their 142 to be; retracted'. This moves the linkage members mounted' on the plate 134` from their position shown by broken lines 180. in Figure` T to. thatA shown byy dot-dash lines 182, causing thev members. and their ns 152 to swing outwardly. `from engagement withthe mitered ends of the cleat resting thereon, permitting the cleat to drop into the channel-shaped .base portion 106 of member 104, inthe space between an adjacent pair of' cleatspaeing members: P` (Figures 7 and 8).

Continued' movement of the conveyer band C causes the clamp lug 1712"- o'f control block Sto contact the free end 1170: or thespring nnger 168V adjacent the second electric switch 1156; and momentarily actuate this switch. This results in. energizing solenoid 116, reti-'acting its armature 1-18 and movingV the arms 122 Vfrom their position shown by full lines 184 in Figure 10 tothe position indicated by dit-dash lines 186. Thus, the bottom cleat is pushed from beneath the column of cleats and onto the iin members. 152 (Figures 8 and 10), which meantime. will have been returned to their initial position by the .tension spring 188. The arms 1:22 are thereafter returned to their initial position by the .tension springs 126., allowing the column of cleats to drop downwardly to till the space vacated by removal of the bottom cleat. The apparatusv is thus readied for a repetition of the cycle just described.

The continuously moving conveyor bands C carry a number of, the control blocks, S. properly spaced so as. to actuate `the electric switches 154 and 156 at the precise times required to cause cleats to be deposited into the spaces between the cleat spacing members P.

-From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the invention provides a practical apparatus for reliably feeding cleats of different lengths into their proper respective positions on the rapidldy moving conveyer bands. It will therefore be appreciated that the aforementioned and other desirable objects have been achieved. However, it should be emphasized that the particular embodiments of the invention are intended as merely llustrative and not as restrictive of the invention.

I claim:

l. In a box-part making machine, apparatus for dispensing cleats with mitered ends, including -a conveyor band having cleat pushing elements secured thereto and defining between them cleat spaces of alternately shorter and longer lengths, .a pair of hoppers -for respectively holding `longer and shorter cleats with their mitered ends facing downwardly, said hoppers being arranged end-toend above the path of said cleat pushing elements, three pairs .of cleat engaging members, the members of each pair being mounted one above the other, the iirst pair being mounted between the proximate ends of said hoppers and the other two pairs being respectively mounted at the remote ends of said cleat hoppers, said first pair of cleat engaging members being pivotally mounted for swinging movement into respective engagement with the proximate mitered ends of the bottom cleat and the next cleat above in one or the other of said hoppers, and said other two pairs being pivotally mounted for swinging movement into and out of respective engagement with the remote mitered ends of the bottom cleat and the next cleat above in the respective hoppers, linkage members so interconnecting said cleat engaging members that when the upper one of said lirst pair swings in one direction the lower ones of said other two pairs swing in vthe same direction and the remaining ones swing in the opposite direction, .whereby the bottom cleat in one hopper and the next-to-bottom cleat in the other hopper are supported while the next-to-'bottom cleat in said one hopper and the bottom cleat in said other hopper are released,

said cleat engaging V-niembers as aforesaid Vand electrical switchmeans connectedtocontrol the operation'of said electrically. controlled means fand mounted adjacent' said f-pensing ,cleats/with mitered ends, including; aA Vconveyor band Ahaving cleat pushing elements secured .thereto and defining ibetween them cleat spaces Yof alternately shorter andY longer lengths, -a pair of hoppersrfor respectively fand vice versa, .electrically controlled means for moving holding lon-ger and shorter cleats with their'mtered ends Y facing downwardly, said hoppers beingarrangedend-to- Aend above the` path of said cleat pushing elements, three .pairs of cleatY engaging members, the members of each ,pair-being mounted one above the other; the rst pair -being mounted ibetweenthe proximate ends of said hopper's andlthe other two pairs being respectively mounted at the remote ends Vof s'aidcleat hoppers, s'aid iirst pair vof cleat' engaging members being pivotally mounted for swinging movement into respective engagement with the v-proximatemitered ends'of the bottom cleat and the next cleat'above in one or the'other of said hoppers, and

"said othervtwo pairsheingnpivotally mounted `for sWinging movement into and'Y out lofrespective 'engagement with the remote mitered ends .of the bottom cleat-and the next cleatrabove in the respective hoppers, linkage memfbers so interconnecting said cleat engaging members thatwhen the upper one of said rst pair swings in one drec- .tion the-lower .ones of said other two-pairs swing in the same directionfand'the remaining ones swing in theV opposite direction, whereby the `bottom y-cleat in one .hopper and the nextco-bottom cleat in the other hopper aregsupportedwhile kthe next-to-bottomicleat in said one hopper'and the 'bottomA rcleatinjsaid other hopper are released, a solenoid and a vreturn spring for movingrsaid 'cleat engaging members in opposite directionsbetween their two positions as aforesaid, and a pair of Yelectrical 'switchesl mountedY at spaced positions along the path of said vconveyorv band for `actuation by lugs projecting from alternate ones of said cleat-pushing elements, said switches being connected tosaid solenoid sov that actuationY of one Vof said switches energizes said solenoid to move said cleat engaging members to one of their two positions, and actuation 'of the other of said `switches Yde-energizessaid solenoid to permit saidreturn 'spring to move said cleat engaging members tothe other-Lof .their twopositions.,Y` t.

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Shannon 1 Jan. 17,11956 

